Rath Artist Papo Vázquez earns glowing reviews for new album

Celebrations have been in order for Rath Artist Papo Vázquez, whose latest album has been earning rave reviews!

Songs del Yucayeke, by Papo Vázquez and the Mighty Pirate Troubadours, has been finding favour far and wide since it was released in June [2024].

Writing about the album for Latin Jazz Net, Raul Da Gama said: “Mr Vázquez’s music is full of surprising twists and turns. Mixed in with the magic he seems to have drawn from the indigenous culture of Puerto Rico, the celebrated trombonist delivers music infused with Puerto Rican-Caribbean Arawak colours and rhythms, propelled in addictive technicolour surges.”

Vicente Toledo Rohena, writing for the National Foundation for Popular Culture, explained: “The creator of exquisite productions such as Chapter 10: Breaking Cover, Spirit Warrior and Isolated to mention a few, has demonstrated his great consistency by carrying out extraordinary and creative projects, linking jazz with bomb, full and other aspects.

“Songs del Yucayeke is perceived as a celebration of Vázquez’s long career; a way of connecting and showing along all the paths he has walked musically.”

Meanwhile, track Plena Pa’Los Apache is featured on Alt.Latino’s best new music round-up.

Papo Vázquez is a trombonist, composer and arranger whose 40-plus year career has spanned Latin, Jazz and Afro Caribbean music. He is a National Endowment for the Arts Master Artist and a Grammy nominee.

Further details on Songs del Yacayeke are available on Papo’s website.

Papo plays a Rath R2 trombone.